Entries tagged with “Walthamstow Dogs” from Working For Walthamstow

We are deeply angered to see London and Quadrant's notice of an application for planning permission hidden in small print on this week's Waltham Forest Guardian on page 25. Despite having repeatedly attempted to talk to them and to see if it would be possible for a deal to be done with those seeking to buy the dog track back, they have not even had the courtesy to let us know of their decision to press ahead with an application directly. This notice gives little detail at present of any substantial community amenity or any consideration of the effects of this development on local transport and schools. We have therefore asked to meet them as a matter of urgency.  We intend to press them to take seriously the offer being made for the site for the benefit of the local community and our local economy. We know Walthamstow needs its dog track back to help kickstart our night time economy and we are pledged as local representatives to lead the fight for this to happen.

Further to my earlier post about the future of Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium, the consortium has now made a serious offer to buy back the site from its new owners the Housing Association London and Quadrant. Currently the track is due to close on the 16 August so on that saturday there will be a rally and march to urge L&Q to enter into negotiations with the consortium to see if a deal can be done to keep racing at the track.  The campaign will begin with a rally at the dog track itself at noon and will then process down Chingford Road and onto Forest Road. There'll be a wedding at the Town Hall so in order to respect the wedding party, the march will pass by the Town Hall and disperse at Spruce Hills Road. There is also a petition you can sign on-line to help show the strength of feeling on this point which will be handed to L&Q. There are 800 jobs and nearly 80 years of history at stake so I hope you will join myself and Neil Gerrard there in showing support for the Save our Stow campaign.

A WESTMINSTER group of MPs and Peers has offered support to Neil Gerrard MP and his efforts to save Walthamstow Stadium. The All Party Parliamentary Greyhound Group (APPGG) has pledged support of short-term lease options that could reprieve greyhound racing at Walthamstow Stadium. The group met on Monday when members also criticised Walthamstow directors for the level of funding which appears to be on offer to provide for those dogs forced into retirement and requiring rehoming following the planned closure next month.

Neil Gerrard, a long-time member of the APPGG said: "Walthamstow has been synonymous with greyhound racing for as long as anyone can remember. It really puts us on the map and is one of the iconic images associated with East London. Of course the land is valuable for development but in this economic climate and with the recent slow down in housing I am concerned that we may end up with the area left abandoned for years. I hope there is a chance for a reprieve for the sport in Walthamstow, even a temporary one, and I am willing to help in brokering any deal to save racing there. If that is not possible then I want to ensure that the future of the greyhounds is secured- either to be racing at other stadia or retired into homes as pets."

A letter co-signed by APPG joint chairman Andrew Rosindell (MP for Romford) and Lord Bilston (formerly MP Dennis Turner and a supporter of his local Monmore Stadium), calls for a meeting with Walthamstow Chairman of Directors Charles Chandler and Managing Director, Jack Chandler. It includes: "Considering the high welfare standards that the track has been proud of, including supporting both the local rehoming organisations for many years, members were extremely disappointed by the level of compensation reported to us that has been offered to secure the future of the greyhounds from the Walthamstow racing strength or in the local retired kennels.

"Members would also like to discuss the short-term lease of the land for the continuance of racing. Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard has been approached by a party considering that possibility and we would hope that this is an area that would not be blocked unnecessarily by the Chandler family."

If you want to be kept upto date with any developments following on from Neil's intervention and the APPG get in touch.